VP, Underwriter - Main Street

As the VP, Underwriter at Berkley Small Business Solutions, your primary responsibilities include providing strategic leadership for underwriting in our Main Street business, which covers BOP, micro-BOP, workers' compensation, and business auto. You'll work with the executive leadership team to develop strategies that impact risk and profitability while overseeing the development and execution of underwriting plans and guidelines.

To qualify for the VP, Underwriter role at Berkley Small Business Solutions, candidates should have over 10 years of underwriting experience and at least 5 years of management experience. Experience in BOP and workers' compensation is mandatory, along with a robust understanding of the functional aspects of an insurance company.

Berkley Small Business Solutions is committed to employee development. As a VP, Underwriter, you will have the opportunity to lead and mentor a team, participate in the company’s budgeting process, and contribute to the continuous improvement of underwriting practices. Training and development initiatives are integral to our goals.

Essential skills for the VP, Underwriter position at Berkley Small Business Solutions include strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, excellent communication skills, and the ability to provide constructive feedback. Additionally, being innovative and knowledgeable about state regulations and industry issues is crucial for success in this role.

The work culture at Berkley Small Business Solutions is collaborative and innovative, fostering an environment where ideas are welcomed and strategic thinking is encouraged. You’ll collaborate closely with various departments, all while championing our customers and enhancing their experience.

In answering this question, detail your specific experiences with writing BOP and WC policies, such as the challenges you've faced, how you approach risk assessment, and what strategies you've implemented to improve outcomes in your previous roles.

When tackling this question, highlight your methodology for assessing priorities, such as risk level, potential profitability, and timelines. Illustrate your decision-making processes and provide examples of past experiences where you successfully managed multiple demands.

Discuss your strategies for mentoring, including your commitment to fostering a growth mindset, providing regular feedback, and offering professional development opportunities. Share specific examples where your mentorship positively impacted team performance.

In responding to this, emphasize your analytical skills and experience with data analysis tools. Talk about what metrics you monitor regularly, and perhaps give an example of how you used data to pivot your underwriting strategies successfully.

Explain how you incorporate technology in your underwriting practices, from using data analytics to streamline the process to enhancing risk assessment accuracy. Share any specific tools or systems you've employed in the past.

Outline your risk evaluation methods, including how you determine acceptable risk levels, utilizing your underwriting experience, and how you communicate decisions to your team and stakeholders.

Provide concrete examples of initiatives you led that directly contributed to revenue growth and improved profit margins. Be specific about the KPIs you used to measure success and how you achieved results.

Share your approach to relationship management, emphasizing communication strategies, regular check-ins, and attending industry networking events. Mention how maintaining strong relationships can lead to better business opportunities.

Discuss your methods for keeping informed about regulatory changes, such as subscribing to industry publications, attending conferences, and networking with industry professionals. Emphasize the importance of compliance in your underwriting strategy.

Encourage creativity by detailing any successful innovations you've implemented previously. Discuss your outlook on embracing new technologies and methodologies that enhance speed and accuracy in the underwriting process.